Which iron sole is better?

Types of iron sole coatings:

• Stainless steel. These are soles with good thermal conductivity, they glide easily and smooth out fabric folds well. They are durable, not subject to corrosion, and the cost of irons with such a sole is low. Manufacturers are making adjustments by coming up with additional coatings. The most common coating is chrome. It reduces corrosion and increases the service life of the device. Today in stores you can find sapphire powder spraying. This sole glides well, smoothes and is durable. The cost of an iron with sapphire filling is high;
• Ceramics. Such soles are also in great demand due to their low price and good glide on fabric. But ceramics is a very fragile material and cannot be damaged. Otherwise, the coating will simply peel off. After some period of use, deposits form on the enamel, which is difficult to remove. Some manufacturers make soles from cermets. Such surfaces have high wear resistance. Long service life and similar in characteristics to stainless steel;
• Titanium. Most irons with such soles are made by Panasonic and Rowenta brands. It is a high-strength metal that is used in the construction of spaceships. It does not form chips or cracks. The sole glides perfectly over the fabric and the temperature is evenly distributed. Disadvantages of such a sole: the iron weighs a lot, is expensive and takes a long time to heat up;
• Teflon coating. This sole easily irons the material and glides well. Its characteristics are similar to aluminum: it scratches easily. No carbon deposits form on the material.

Which iron sole is better, ceramic or stainless steel?

You can compare two materials for making the sole of the device according to the following criteria:

• Weight. A stainless steel iron is heavier than a ceramic iron, but has another advantage: it can accelerate when sliding over fabric. Irons with ceramics weigh no more than 1.5 kg;
• Strength. Stainless steel is durable. It does not form cracks or chips and glides well. The ceramics should not be damaged so that the ceramics do not peel off;
• Heating uniformity. Stainless steel distributes heat evenly. Ceramic most often is only the coating of the sole. For the base, a material with good thermal conductivity is selected;
• Slip. The glide of both types of soles is ideal;
• Price. The cost of a device with a stainless steel base is higher than that of ceramics.

In many respects, stainless steel is superior to ceramics, but to get such a high-quality iron, the buyer will have to fork out the cash.

Ceramics or metal ceramics?

Ceramic and cermet irons are only gaining popularity.

The ceramic sole glides perfectly and copes with even the most difficult folds. It heats up quickly and retains heat for a long time.Such devices save energy and are easy to clean. They are cleaned only with special products that do not scratch the enamel and remove dirt.

Metal ceramics are practically no different from ceramics. But ceramics are more fragile and are easily damaged by zippers and buttons. Metal-ceramics are more durable and their service life is increased. The sole of such an iron is less fragile, and other properties of ceramics are preserved.

Aluminum iron soles

Advantages and disadvantages

When you turn on the iron, this surface heats up easily and cools down quickly. The big drawback is that the material is very soft; when ironing things, it can easily be scratched by accessories (lock, metal button). The downside is that if the device itself is not set to the desired mode, the sole will quickly become hot and the risk of burning the item will increase.

Today, manufacturers often use anodized aluminum for the surface of the iron. It prevents the fabric from burning. But even with such spraying, the metal does not become less rigid. Sometimes an alloy of aluminum and stainless steel is used for the iron. This combination gives the sole strength, fast heating, and low weight. Pros: such irons are universal and common, and their price is not high.

Which iron sole is considered the best?

The best, according to experts, is a stainless steel sole. It is not afraid of impacts, does not chip, and distributes heat evenly. Unlike Teflon and ceramics, it does not scratch. Compared to aluminum, it is difficult to scratch; if the mode is set incorrectly, such an iron will not burn through the fabric.

Which irons have the best coating?

• Metal ceramics. For example (model Tefal FV 3925), this is a good device for home use with an average price.There is a steam supply, a steam boost, no water leaking. The iron has an automatic steam setting; it regulates its release depending on the ironing mode. The sole glides well;
• Ceramics. For example (model Scarlett SC-SI30K15), the cost of the device is budget, but this does not affect the quality of ironing. There is a function against the formation of drops when the iron cools down. It turns itself off if not used for several minutes;
• Sapphire coating. For example (model Braun TexStyle 770 TP), the device is not heavy, glides smoothly, is equipped with a long cord, and can easily handle ironing delicate fabrics. The handle is equipped with plastic inserts, which prevents it from slipping in the hand. Large water tank. There is vertical steaming;
• Stainless steel. For example (model Polaris PIR 1004T), this model is compact, which travelers will really like. There is a steam boost. Ergonomic, lightweight, heats up quickly, the handle folds.

The device has an ergonomic shape and low weight. It is convenient for them to iron even hard-to-reach places. Good glide over fabric, does not burn through fabric, does not leave shiny stains.

Caring for the coating of the soleplate of the iron (tips for housewives)

Cleaning can be chemical or mechanical. Regular soda will cope with limescale deposits. To do this, you need to place baking soda with water and lightly rub the sole.

Attention: This measure is not suitable for an aluminum sole. Other types of surfaces can be cleaned with it.

Another effective and neutral cleaning agent is citric acid. To do this, squeeze in the juice from half a lemon. Dilute with warm filtered water and remove dirt with cotton pads soaked in this composition.

Lime deposits appear over time not only on the soleplate, but also inside the iron and steam holes. The usual “Antiscale” will help, which removes plaque from inside the kettle. We dilute the product and pour it into the water tank. We set the maximum temperature and place it in a vertical position for 20 minutes. Then we iron the unnecessary item, which can then be thrown away until the water in the tank runs out.

Then add clean water and repeat ironing again until the water runs out.

Cleaning ceramics at home is done with lemon juice and ammonia applied to a piece of flannel. You can also use hydrogen peroxide for this.

To make the sole less dirty, you need to follow the rules:

• Set the temperature correctly for each fabric. To do this, you need to read the information on the label;
• Do not use regular tap water. Take distilled;
• Clean the sole immediately after ironing.

Conclusion and conclusions

To ensure that the iron does not spoil things, you should pay attention to the criteria for choosing the sole and the material from which the surface of the iron is made. The best materials for soles at the moment are the original developments of iron manufacturers and stainless steel.

It is important to use the iron correctly, care for it and clean it regularly. If you follow these recommendations, ironing will be a pleasure, and there will be no marks, burns or shiny spots on the fabric.